Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 13
Chapter 16 — बुद्धाद्यवतारकथनम्
Narration of Buddha and Other Incarnations
सोवाप्तकामो विमलः सकुलः स्वर्गमाप्नुयात् धर्माधर्मव्यवस्थानमेवं वै कुरुते हरिः अवतीर्णञ्च स गतः सर्गादेः कारणं हरिः
sovāptakāmo vimalaḥ sakulaḥ svargamāpnuyāt dharmādharmavyavasthānamevaṃ vai kurute hariḥ avatīrṇañca sa gataḥ sargādeḥ kāraṇaṃ hariḥ
Demikianlah, dengan keinginannya tercapai, menjadi suci, dan bersama keturunannya, ia akan mencapai syurga. Dengan cara inilah Hari menegakkan susunan yang tepat antara dharma dan adharma. Setelah turun (sebagai avatāra) lalu berangkat, Hari itulah sesungguhnya sebab bagi penciptaan dan segala proses seterusnya (permulaan kosmos).
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic doctrine in the Agni Purāṇa tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Connects ethical order (dharma/adharma governance) with cosmological causality; used to teach that avatāra activity sustains moral law and that devotion/recitation yields purification and auspicious destiny.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Hari as Regulator of Dharma–Adharma and Cause of Cosmic Process","lookup_keywords":["dharma-adharma","Hari governance","avatāra descent","sarga kāraṇa","svarga-phala"],"quick_summary":"The verse links personal fruit (purification and heaven) with Hari’s cosmic function: establishing moral order and being the ultimate cause behind creation and dissolution cycles."}
Concept: Īśvara as both immanent regulator of dharma and transcendent cause of sarga (emanation) and the cosmic sequence.
Application: Align conduct with dharma as participation in cosmic order; cultivate devotion to the causal ground (Hari) rather than mere outcome-seeking.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Adharma Vyavasthā (Ethics, karmic order, and Hari’s cosmic governance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Loka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A two-tier scene: below, a purified devotee with family receives a path to Svarga; above, Hari presides as cosmic judge balancing dharma and adharma, with a subtle backdrop of creation unfolding from him.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Hari enthroned with a dharma-scale motif; lower band shows a family performing dharmic acts and ascending a luminous path; stylized cosmic lotus emerging behind Hari.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Viṣṇu as cosmic lord with gold halo; side panels show dharma and adharma personified; bottom register shows the devotee and lineage receiving blessings and a gateway to Svarga; heavy gold embossing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: didactic composition—central Hari, left panel ‘dharma’ acts, right panel ‘adharma’ acts, top panel ‘sarga’ (emanation) diagram; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: allegorical court of justice with Hari as sovereign; attendants personify dharma/adharma; background shows a delicate cosmological vignette of worlds emanating; detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोवाप्तकामो → सः अवाप्तकामः; स्वर्गमाप्नुयात् → स्वर्गम् आप्नुयात्; व्यवस्थानमेवं → व्यवस्थानम् एवम्; अवतीर्णञ्च → अवतीर्णम् च. ‘अवतीर्णम्’ appears for expected masculine nominative ‘अवतीर्णः’ (possible textual/orthographic variation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 16 (Daśāvatāra and phala-śruti context); Agni Purana 17 (sṛṣṭi and causal doctrine elaboration)
FAQs
It imparts dharma-śāstric governance as a theological principle: Hari is said to establish the operative distinction and regulation (vyavasthā) of dharma versus adharma, which underlies ritual merit and moral consequence.
It ties together multiple knowledge domains—ethics (dharma/adharma), soteriology (purification and attainment of svarga), and cosmology (Hari as the cause of sarga and subsequent cosmic stages)—showing the Purāṇa’s integrated treatment of law, devotion, and creation doctrine.
The verse frames spiritual success as purification and fulfillment culminating in heavenly attainment, while asserting that moral order itself is divinely administered—implying that karmic outcomes are reliable because Hari sustains the dharma–adharma framework.